Greetings From Clearmont Community Church.

Feeling tired today – not surprising really – big days on the bike and not always getting enough sleep at night – woken up a few times by the sound of train horns as they passed by last night.

So today I had 2 choices – Just over 60 miles to Clearmont where I had been told that there was camping beside the shop or a big 100+ miles to the next town of Gillette – I had been aiming for Gillette but even getting out of my sleeping bag was a struggle this morning and my heart wasn’t in it – not helped that the route that I had planned to avoid the main highway came to a dead end and few miles of extra cycling were needed.

I set off to Sheridan (my 2nd Sheridan this trip) which looked like a nice town – there a few downsides to this trip – (1) I don’t always have time to explore the places that I pass through and (2) I can’t buy any of the fabby books and Christmas decorations I have seen (Nige breaths a sigh of relief).   I stopped at The Sheridan Bicycle Company – they didn’t have what I needed but very friendly and got some tips and pointers as well – they were quite sure that I would make it to Gillette and with a new spring in my step I set off.

Nice easy cycling and good going to begin with but tiredness was setting in and the weather was changing – the clouds looked ominously black and the wind changed direction – Clearmont it was then.   I stopped at the Clear Creek Food n Fuel Stop to enquire about camping and met Tammy – no camping but I could say in one of the cabins for $75 (not a huge amount for a cabin but trying to keep money for when I’m really stuck and / or the weather is really miserable) OR Tammy would contact the local Pastor and I could sleep and shower in the local church!   As most folks know – I don’t go to church – I’m not anti religion but I don’t really believe either so it seemed a wee bit strange to be sleeping in a church – any off I go to meet Shane the Pastor and both me and Bertie are welcomed into Clearmont’s new Church – Shane hasn’t had so many cyclists this year but had about 50 the previous year sleeping in his church – I can sleep anywhere and have use of the kitchen and shower facilities – the shower was fantastic – and I can also access the wifi (which I hadn’t been able to at the last 2 campsites or at MacDonalds earlier today).

Back to the shop for pizza for dinner and then back at the church I meet Melissa – Melissa works in a care home but also cleans the church – I hope I don’t make too much mess – and I’m invited to Melissa’s house for icecream and blackberries – thank you to Melissa,  her daughter Brooke and dogs Macy,  Holly and Sage – as well as meeting lots of cool folks,  I’m meeting lots of cool dogs as well.

Brooke and Melissa

Couple of days behind schedule but should catch up and there are also busses and trains if need be.   Night folks.

Ps – Thank you to Tammy at the shop for introducing me to Shane and thank you to Shane for keeping your Church open for cyclists.